Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Brown hints at NFL return after injury to Steelers top WR

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/12/23

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown just can’t help himself.

The 35-year-old wideout hasn’t played a down since Jan. 2, 2022, and no NFL team has even hinted at possibly wanting to add him to their roster. And yet, Brown in his immense delusion of grandeur, keeps hinting at making an NFL return.

His latest pot stirring happened on Tuesday when he insinuated he would be a fit for the Steelers, who will be without top receiver Diontae Johnson “for a few weeks,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter after he suffered a hamstring injury following a 26-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter during Pittsburgh’s Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Heard the @steelers need a WR………..
— AB (@AB84) September 12, 2023

Hear Me Out…….. pic.twitter.com/jwHkBWyCBv
— AB (@AB84) September 12, 2023

Johnson has been Pittsburgh’s leading receiver each of the last three seasons, and he’s led the team in receptions four straight years. He’s just one season removed from setting career highs in targets (169), receptions (107), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (eight).

Brown, who last played for the Bucs more than a year and a half ago, spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Steelers. He totaled 837 receptions, 11,207 yards and 74 touchdowns and was a five-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler. With Pittsburgh, Brown led the NFL in receptions twice (2014, 2015), receiving yards twice (2014, 2017) and touchdowns once (2018).

The Steelers traded Brown to the Raiders in 2019 but he was released days before the regular season started at his request after getting into a verbal altercation with then-general manager Mike Mayock for several unexcused absences and missing multiple team practices.

Brown played one game for the New England Patriots in 2019 and 15 games over two seasons with the Bucs in 2020 and 2021.

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